UK police clash with far-right rioters who tried to storm hotel housing asylum seekers
Before bringing the riot under some sort of control, police officers with shields had faced a barrage of missiles, including bits of wood, chairs and fire extinguishers, as they sought to prevent a far-right mob from entering a hotel housing asylum-seeker
Police in the English town of Rotherham faced a barrage of missiles and struggled to hold back far-right rioters attempting to break into a hotel housing asylum seekers. Officers with shields were targeted with projectiles, including bits of wood, chairs, and fire extinguishers, as they tried to prevent the mob, many wearing masks, from entering the Holiday Inn Express. Windows were smashed, and a small fire was started as the atmosphere turned febrile. The riot was eventually brought under control, but it marked another bout of unrest to grip the UK.
This wave of rioting follows a stabbing rampage at a dance class in northern England that left three girls dead and sparked false rumors about the suspect, fueling far-right anger. The violence has since spread to other towns and cities, with right-wing groups organizing online and tapping into concerns about immigration. Protests and counter-protests have taken place across the country, resulting in around 100 arrests so far.
The English Defense League, led by longtime agitator Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson), has been linked to the violent protest in Southport. Yaxley-Lennon has a vast online following and has been accused of spreading anti-immigration sentiment. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has also been criticized for his indirect encouragement of anti-immigration sentiment.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the far-right thuggery and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. He promised additional resources for police to tackle the breakdown of law and order and blamed the violence on "far-right hatred." Policing minister Diana Johnson asserted that there was "no need" to deploy the army to assist police in addressing the unrest.
This wave of rioting follows a stabbing rampage at a dance class in northern England that left three girls dead and sparked false rumors about the suspect, fueling far-right anger. The violence has since spread to other towns and cities, with right-wing groups organizing online and tapping into concerns about immigration. Protests and counter-protests have taken place across the country, resulting in around 100 arrests so far.
The English Defense League, led by longtime agitator Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson), has been linked to the violent protest in Southport. Yaxley-Lennon has a vast online following and has been accused of spreading anti-immigration sentiment. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has also been criticized for his indirect encouragement of anti-immigration sentiment.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the far-right thuggery and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. He promised additional resources for police to tackle the breakdown of law and order and blamed the violence on "far-right hatred." Policing minister Diana Johnson asserted that there was "no need" to deploy the army to assist police in addressing the unrest.